When it Comes to
Getting a Job...
Mastering Your...
Résumé,
Cover Letter
Interview
Is the Key to
Your Success!
Unlock
Your
Potential!
Create Your Résumé
Chronological Résumé
This format is best suited for single-industry or -function careers (same industries and functions/skills),
when there are no gaps in employment history.
A résumé is a selling tool that summarizes
your skills, accomplishments, experiences, and
education in order to secure an interview. It is the
first representation of you and your work seen
by a prospective employer. The most effective
résumés are clearly focused on your job objective.
There are two primary types of résumés:
chronological and functional. Adapt the
chronological resume if you easily meet the
advertised skill, experience, and education
requirements. Adapt the functional resume if you
are a new graduate or are changing fields or
industries.
Either should abide by the following principles
and include the following basic elements:
LENGTH
Limit résumés to one page if possible. If a
résumé is longer than one page, make sure to
list key skills and selling points on the first page.
CONTACT INFORMATION
Your name, address, phone number and email
address should appear centered at top of the
page.
OBJECTIVE
Start your résumé with a statement of your
employment objective in one sentence. Make
sure that your objective is not too narrow or too
broad. Name the position you want along with
two or three of your top skills.
TITLES & DATES
Identify company name, position title, and the
dates of your previous positions. Make sure
dates line up and are easy to follow.
CONTENT
Emphasize results and achievements, not
job duties. Indicate how well you performed,
and incorporate numbers wherever possible.
Bullet points work best for listing job-based
achievements.
SALARY
Never list past, current, or expected earnings. You
may be rejected because you make too much
money, or you may be offered too little money
based on past earnings.
EDUCATION
Be brief and concise. Include degree earned,
schools attended, year graduated, major, and
any honors.
REFERENCES
Modern résumé formats do not include
employment references. Have a separate list of
references available.
PERSONAL INFORMATION
Do not include such personal information as
age, height, weight, health, or marital status.
Such information is not considered to be job
relevant.
Jaime B. Williams
6623 Sueno Street #B
Santa Barbara, CA 93000
(805) 123-4567
[email protected]
EDUCATION:
Bachelor of Arts Degree in English with a Minor in Theatre Arts
Westmont College, Santa Barbara, CA, May 1997
• Working knowledge of Spanish and French.
EXPERIENCE:
Director of Social Service Outreach
Nov. 2002 - Present
Westmont College, Santa Barbara, CA
• Coordinated cross-cultural program in Ensenada, Mexico.
• Supervised 450 students in 24 diverse teams.
• Established working relationships with Mexican Government and pastoral community.
• Designed program to increase group unity.
• Directed a theatrical team for cross-cultural outreach.
Director of Homeless Outreach
Aug. 2000 - Nov. 2002
Westmont College, Santa Barbara, CA
• Developed weekly program to present at several organizations implementing
drama and music.
• Motivated team members to build relationships with the homeless.
• Established strong community emphasis between homeless and students.
International Ambassador for “Up With People”
Jul. 1999 - Aug. 2000
Tucson, AZ
• Participated in both presentational and organizational aspects of show.
• Interacted in prisons, rest homes, hospitals and other similar institutions in five countries.
• Promoted “Up With People” in Norway and the United States.
Promotion Representative for Access Theatre
Sep. 1998 - Jun. 1999
Santa Barbara, CA
• Managed publicity for theatre, promoting a show which integrated handicapped
and hearing impaired performers with non-handicapped performers.
• Successfully promoted fund-raisers to aid nonprofit organization.
Employment Service Representative Intern
Jul. 1997 - Jul. 1998
Employment Development Department, Santa Barbara, CA
• Organized and assisted in job search workshop.
• Aided in job development and placement of the Youth Employment Service.
Remedy matches you
with jobs that meet your
career goals!
Functional Résumé
This format is best suited for multi-industry or -function careers (different industries and functions/skills),
when there are no gaps in employment history.
Mary S. Johnson
4600 Main Street, Santa Barbara, CA 93000
(805) 123-4567 • [email protected]
OBJECTIVE: A position as Sales Manager or Account Manager.
SUMMARY OF QUALIFICATIONS:
• Six years successful experience in direct sales of a range of products
and services.
• Extensive practical hands-on experience as co-owner and manager of a
small business.
• Motivated and enthusiastic about developing good relations with clients.
• Effective working alone or as a cooperative team member.
• Professional in appearance and presentation.
RELEVANT SKILLS:
Sales and New Account Development
• Increased a small publication’s advertising revenue through market
research and promotion.
• Developed new distribution outlets for a special-interest magazine in
Northern California.
Customer Relations
• Served as vendor representative for Jana Imports.
• Oversaw the production of advertising and its placement in major trade
publications.
Advertising, Marketing and Distribution
• Organized and styled merchandise for effective presentation in a 20-page
gift-ware catalog.
• Handled all aspects of order taking and processing at both Bill’s Dairy
and Jana Imports.
EMPLOYMENT HISTORY:
2002 - Present: Co-Owner/Manager
Bill’s Dairy Products, Livermore
2000 - 2002:
Distribution Coordinator Déja Vù Publishing Co., San Rafael
1997 - 2000:
Sales Coordinator
Jana Imports, Oakland
Effective Cover Letters
Every résumé should be accompanied by
a well-written cover letter, whether it was
requested by the employer or not.
An effective cover letter will create enough
interest on the part of the reader to warrant
closer examination of the résumé. Make sure
your cover letter includes good spelling and
grammar.
If possible, mail cover letters to the attention
of a specific individual within the company,
rather than simply to Human Resources.
If applying to a job via email, include the
cover letter in the body of the email or as an
attachment and attach your resume.
Cover Letters Should Include:
1. Your Return Address
2. Potential Employer’s Address
3. Date
4. Salutation
5. Introductory Paragraph – Include where
you saw the ad and express your interest in the position.
6. Secondary Paragraph(s) - Provide a
brief summary of your skills, accomplishments, experience, and education that
are specifically applicable to the job for
which you are applying.
7. Request for Response
8. Closing/Signature
EDUCATION: Bachelor of Liberal Arts Degree, UCLA, 1997
Cover Letter & Resume
Checklist:
Remember to....
Check spelling and grammar.
Include your phone number and email.
Provide all the information the employer
asked you to include (education level,
years of experience, etc.).
Explain any gaps in employment.
Keep cover letter and résumé to one
page each, if possible.
Mastering the Interview
The interview is your final and best opportunity to sell your
skills to an employer. Confidence in yourself and your abilities,
professionalism, and preparedness are the key aspects of a
successful interview.
In order to master your interview, you need to understand the typical
format of an interview and be as prepared as possible for questions
you may be asked.
Before Your Interview
Research the position and the organization, and be sure you
understand the position for which you are applying.
Write down your skills and relevant work and extracurricular
experience, including specific personal and professional
successes that demonstrate how you can contribute to the
organization. Also list your weaknesses and how you are working
to overcome them.
Prepare yourself for open-ended and factual questions from the
interviewer and come up with questions to ask the employer.
Finally, on the day on the interview, dress professionally and
arrive at least 5 minutes early.
During Your Interview
Helpful hints for a successful
interview experience:
• Be positive, speak slowly, and pause before
answering.
• Listen attentively to the questions. Ask for
clarification when you don’t understand a
question.
• Give complete answers and use specific
examples whenever possible.
• Don’t be negative about previous bosses,
employers, or companies.
• Be prepared with extra copies of your résumé
and with your list of references.
• Be courteous to everyone you meet:
receptionists, secretaries, and others. You never
know who could be helping make the decision
whom to hire.
• Meet the interviewer with a firm handshake, a
friendly smile, and a polite greeting.
• Be confident and poised. Show interest and
enthusiasm.
A typical interview consists of three segments:
• Be professional and use professional language.
1. The ice-breaking period is the opportunity to make your first
impression; it sets the tone for the interview. Some Human
Resources professionals say it takes 20 seconds to form an
opinion of the candidate and the rest of the interview to confirm it.
• Use body language to show interest (appropriate
posture and eye contact).
• Ask about follow-up procedures and collect a
business card.
2. The body of the interview is an information exchange. The
interviewer tells you about the company and the particular
position and asks you questions about yourself. You can use
this portion of the interview to volunteer information, as well as
ask questions about the position.
3. The closing is your chance to reiterate your interest in the
position and find out the next step. Ask if they will call you or if
you should call them.
After Your Interview
Follow up with a thank-you letter and any requested materials
within 1-2 days.
Be persistent and maintain an optimistic outlook. Employers will
assume you can perform the job successfully.
Follow-up again after an appropriate length of time has passed!
Visit www.remedystaff.com
for sample interview questions
and more career coaching tips.